ADAMS, Mass. — ThunderFest returns this weekend with the addition of the Snow Train.
Although the Thunderbolt Ski Run was once again canceled because of the anticipated lack of snow, the coinciding party returns Saturday at the Visitors Center Parking Lot starting at noon.
"We're very excited to welcome Berkshire Scenic Railway's Snow Train to ThunderFest this year," Ray Gargan, co-chair of ProAdams said. "It will be like taking a train ride back in time and their educational presentation will be an entertaining way to learn about our local history."
The train rides echo those from the 1930s though the 1950s that brought winter sports enthusiast to the Berkshires. According to the ProAdams press release, the trains would arrive in Adams on what is now the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail and skiers could then test their skills on the Thunderbolt Ski Trail.
This year, Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum's Hoosac Valley Train Rides is recreating the Snow Train with a decorated train to run during Thunderfest. Vintage railroad posters and winter sporting equipment will be on display and an educational presentation will be given on the history of Snow Trains and the local train service.
Gargan added that events such as ThunderFest help draw people to the community, much as these passenger trains did.
"We believe that events such as ThunderFest and RambleFest are important to Adams," he said. "They help to bring people to Adams to experience what we have to offer, which is important for economic development. And of course, the events are fun for the people of Adams and neighboring towns."
Along with the train rides there will be live entertainment from Tom Corrigan and Elizabeth Young & The Restless Hearts.
There will be food vendors as well as beer from local breweries.
As for the fate of the Thunderbolt Ski Run, that has not been held for some years now, there is talk of relocating the event from Mount Greylock to Berkshire East Ski Resort in Charlemont as part of the NE Rando Race series.
Gargan added that the Thunderbolt Ski Runners have researched the best dates for the race and have determined that late February and early March historically have had the most snow.
If they ever move the race up in the year in hopes of catching more snow, ThunderFest would follow.
Gargan added that even without the race, the party always proves to be a good time.
"ThunderFest, in particular, occurs at a time of the year when there aren't many community events in the Berkshires," he said. "There are many things to do in the Berkshire during the summer and fall, but in late winter many people are eager to get out and shake off their cabin fever."
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Adams Community Bank Holds Annual Meeting, Announce Growth
ADAMS, Mass. — The annual meeting of the Community Bancorp of the Berkshires, MHC, the parent company of Adams Community Bank, was held on April 10, 2024, at Charles H. McCann Technical School in North Adams.
The meeting included reviewing the 2023 financial statements for the Bank, electing directors and corporators, and highlighting upcoming executive personnel changes.
"In 2023, the Bank experienced another year of growth in assets, loans, and deposits, noting the Pittsfield branch reached $26 million in customer deposits from its opening in December of 2022," President and CEO of Adams Community Bank Charles O'Brien said. "Those deposits were loaned out locally during 2023 and helped drive our #1 ranking in both mortgage and commercial real estate lending, according to Banker and Tradesman."
At year-end 2023, total assets were $995 million, and O'Brien noted the Bank crossed the $1 billion threshold during the first quarter of 2024.
Board chair Jeffrey Grandchamp noted with O'Brien's upcoming retirement, this will be the final annual meeting of the CEO's tenure since he joined the Bank in 1997. He thanked him for his 27 years of dedication to the Bank. He acknowledged the evolution of the Bank as it became the premier community bank in the Berkshires, noting that branches grew from 3 to 10, that employees grew from 40 to 135, and that assets grew from $127 million to $1 billion.
An executive search is underway for O'Brien's replacement.
The Adams Beautification group, which has been quietly sprucing up the town since 2022, hopes to bring in more members of the community during a community cleanup day scheduled for Saturday, April 27. click for more
Berkshire Arts and Technology Charter Public School history teacher Alla Chelukhova has been selected as the April Teacher of the Month. click for more
Desroches graduated from the Police Academy on March 22 in the top tier in his class. He's currently in the field training program and assigned to Sgt. Curtis Crane.
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Michael Wynn, who was selected in January to run the center, submitted a level operating budget of $57,500 but said he could pull funding from different lines to ensure there was money for advertising this fall.
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